Having sat through many British election nights I know that alcohol only takes you so far. What you crave (or I crave) by 3 in the morning is a good cup of tea. Nothing fancy - an English breakfast tea would do just fine. With a spoonful of sugar to boost your energy levels. Up until then beer tends to hit the spot better than wine (a Chicagoan brew like Goose Island IPA would be appropriate, given the Obama connection) with a bottle of champagne at the end of the night to celebrate or drown your sorrows.

According to a bizarre site called Obamapedia which is devoted to little known facts about the man, Obama doesn’t drink alcohol, but this is contradicted by the creators of an online wine quiz about the candidates and former presidents which maintains that his favourite drink is a margarita.

Meanwhile another site called Obama-McCain Info claims McCain has a preference for Stoli on the Rocks which seems unlikely (bound to offend voters who remain paranoically suspicious of the former Soviet Union) and coffee (much safer)

No specific suggestions for Sarah Palin though there is apparently a Chilean syrah called Palin  which has recorded a significant drop in sales since the Vice-Presidential connection was established.

What would I pick? Well whether he drinks or not Obama looks to me like a Pinot Noir sort of a guy (Oregon, I'd suggest), McCain could be a Bordeaux man (like Nixon who apparently used to have his staff hide the label with a napkin to conceal the fact that he was drinking French wine) and Sarah Palin? Wow, that’s a tricky one but given her reputation as a huntin', shootin' sort of a gal there's a beer called Skullsplitter which might be appropriate . . .